• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.135-140
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• 2016

Background: Nephrotoxicity is a common side effect of medications. Panax ginseng is one of the best-known herbal medicines, and its individual constituents enhance renal function. Identification of its efficacy and mechanisms of action against drug-induced nephrotoxicity, as well as the specific constituents mediating this effect, have recently emerged as an interesting research area focusing on the kidney protective efficacy of P. ginseng. Methods: The present study investigated the kidney protective effect of fermented black ginseng (FBG) and its active component ginsenoside 20(S)-Rg3 against cisplatin (chemotherapy drug)-induced damage in pig kidney (LLC-PK1) cells. It focused on assessing the role of mitogen-activated protein kinases as important mechanistic elements in kidney protection. Results: The reduced cell viability induced by cisplatin was significantly recovered with FBG extract and ginsenoside 20(S)-Rg3 dose-dependently. The cisplatin-induced elevated protein levels of phosphorylated c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), p53, and cleaved caspase-3 were decreased after cotreatment with FBG extract or ginsenoside 20(S)-Rg3. The elevated percentage of apoptotic LLC-PK1 cells induced by cisplatin treatment was significantly abrogated by cotreatment with FBG and the ginsenoside 20(S)-Rg3. Conclusion: FBG and its major ginsenoside 20(S)-Rg3, ameliorated cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in LLC-PK1 cells by blocking the JNKep53ecaspase-3 signaling cascade.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2017.06a
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• pp.93-93
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• 2017

To develop rice cultivars with increased biomass and grain yield, superior lodging resistance is an essential trait. The new breeding approach can be adopted for the improvement of stem lodging resistance by enhancing culm strength. The resistance to breaking type lodging is attributed to bending moment of basal culm (M), which is composed of the section modulus (SM) and bending stress (BS). The resistance to the bending type lodging is attributed to flexural rigidity (FR) of stem, which is composed of the secondary moment of inertia (SMI) and Young's modulus (YM). Starch and cell wall components such as cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin also play a significant role in physical strength of culm, and thus affect lodging. Leaf Star has a superior lodging resistance due to its thick and stiff culm because of its high M and FR compared with Koshihikari. Furthermore, Leaf Star contains high densities of hemicellulose, cellulose and low lignin density in culm compared with Koshihikari. In this study, we performed QTL analysis for these traits associated with culm strength, using 94 recombinant inbred lines (RILs, $F_8$), derived from a cross between Leaf Star and Koshihikari. The SM in the RILs showed a continuous distribution. QTLs for SM were detected on chrs.2, 3 and 10. Leaf Star alleles increased SM on chrs. 2 and 3, but Koshihikari allele increased on chr.10. These QTLs overlapped with those QTLs identified using backcrossed inbred line derived from a cross between Chugoku 117 and Koshihikari, the parents of Leaf Star. The FR in Leaf Star was higher than that in Koshihikari due to the larger SMI and YM. 3 QTLs for SMI were detected on chrs.2, 3 and 10. Leaf Star alleles increased SMI on chrs.2 and 3, and Koshihikari alleles increased on chr.10. One QTL on chr.3 and two QTLs on chr.5 for hollocelulose content were detected with Leaf Star alleles contribution. Moreover, two QTLs were detected for hemicellulose density on chrs.3 and 5. Leaf Star allele increased hemicellulose density on chr.5, and Koshihikari allele increased on chr.3. Furthermore, two QTLs for cellulose density were detected on chr.5, and one QTL on chr.2. For starch content, one QTL on chr.3 and two QTLs on chr.5 with Leaf Star alleles contribution were detected. TULK-6 carrying a chromosome segment of Leaf Star on chr.5 in the Koshihikari genetic background showed higher densities of starch and hemicellulose than those in Koshihikari. These results suggest that the detected QTLs for culm strength could be utilized for the improvement of lodging resistance in rice by marker-assisted selection.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.113-118
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• 2011

The flash point is an important indicator of the flammability of a chemical. The minimum flash point behaviour (MFPB) is exhibited when the flash point of a mixture is below the flash points of the individual components. The identification of this behaviour is critical, because a hazardous situation results from taking the lowest component flash point value as the mixture flash point. In this study, the flash points for the n-butanol + n-decane and n-octane + n-propanol systems which exhibit MFPB, were measured by Tag open-cup apparatus. The experimental data were compared with the alues calculated by the Raoult's law, the van Laar equation and the Wilson equation. The calculated values based on the van Laar and Wilson equations were found to be better than those based on the Raoult's law. It was concluded that the van Laar and Wilson equations were more effective than the Raoult' law at describing the activity coefficients for non-ideal solution such as the n-butanol + n-decane and n-octane + n-propanol systems. The predictive curve of the flash point prediction model based on the Wilson equation described the experimentally-derived data more effectively than was the case when the prediction model was based upon the van Laar equation.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.221-225
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• 2000

This study was conducted to investigate the usefulness of Perilla frutescens var. acuta as a natural spice. Volatile flavor components of dried Perilla frutescens var. acuta were extracted by supercritical fluid extraction method using diethyl ether as solvent. Essential oils were analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Identification of volatile flavor components was based on the RI of GC and mass spectrum of GC-MS. A total of 24 components, including 4 hydrocarbons, 3 aldehydes, 8 alcohols, 4 esters, 3 acids and 2 miscellaneous components were identified in the essential oils. L-Perillaldehyde was found to be the major volatile flavor component of dried Perilla frutescens var. acuta. The masking effects of Perilla frutescens var. acuta on meaty and fishy flavor were measured by sensory evaluation. Meaty flavor was significantly reduced with the addition of 0.05%, 0.1%, and 0.2% Perilla frutescens var. acuta. The addition of 0.1% and 0.2% powdered Perilla frutescens var. acuta also reduced the fishy flavor of mackerel.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.249-257
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• 2014

In this study, the anti-oxidative and anti-obesity activities of Amomum cardamomum L. methanol extract (ACME) were evaluated using DPPH radical scavenging activity assay, pancreatic lipase enzyme inhibition assay, and the cell culture model system. ACME exhibited DPPH radical scavenging activities dose-dependently, with $IC_{50}$ of DPPH radical scavenging activities of ACME being $25.15{\mu}g/ml$. Furthermore, ACME effectively suppressed pancreatic lipase enzyme activity dose-dependently. ACME also significantly suppressed adipocyte differentiation, lipid accumulation, triglyceride (TG) contents, and triggered lipolysis activity on 3T3-L1 preadipocytes in a dose-dependent manner, without cytotoxicity. Their anti-obesity effect was modulated by the cytidine-cytidine-adenosine-adenosine-thymidine (CCAAT)/enhancer binding proteins ${\alpha}$ ($C/EBP{\alpha}$), $C/EBP{\beta}$ and the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}$ ($PPAR{\gamma}$) gene and protein expressions. Taken together, these results provide an important new insight that A. cardamomum L. possesses anti-oxidative and anti-obesity activities such as pancreatic lipase inhibition, anti-adipogenic, and lipolysis effects. There is therefore potential for its use as a promising component in the field of nutraceuticals and the identification of the active compounds that confer the anti-oxidative and anti-obesity activities of ACME might be an appropriate next step.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.170-176
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• 2005

This study was conducted to investigate the level of PCBs and distribution of PCB congeners in the ambient air of Korea and Japan. The source of PCBs were also studied by a statistical method. The TEQ concentration of PCB in the ambient air of Korea and Japan were between 0.003 and $1.01\;pgTEQ/m^3$(mean value : $0.22\;pgTEQ/m^3$) and between 0.002 and $0.014\;pgTEQ/m^3$ (mean value: $0.007\;pgTEQ/m^3$), respectively. The ambient air of industrial area of Korea showed a fluctuation in PCB concentration than other sampling area. The isomer distribution patterns in the ambient air was more or less similar in all sampling places. In addition, highly chlorinated homologues ($7{\sim}10CB$) were detected in the only Korea industrial area. This observation suggests that there is a possibility of specific source of PCBs in the industrial area. The source identification of PCB in ambient air was performed using multivariate statistical analysis(principal component analysis). As a result, it is estimated that the Korean ambient air was more influenced by combustion process than the ambient air of Japan and also the effect of PCB commercial products was relatively a small.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.200-203
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• 2000

Boron doped conducting diamond thin films were grown on Si substrate by microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition from a gaseous feed of hydrogen, acetone/methanol and solid boron. The doping level of boron was ca. $10^2ppm\;(B/C)$. The Si substrate was tilted ca. $10^{\circ}$ to make Si substrate, which have different height and temperature. Experimental results showed that different crystalline of diamond thin films were made by different temperature of Si substrate. There appeared $3\~4$ steps of different crystalline morphology of diamond. To characterize the boron-doped diamond thin film, Raman spectroscopy was used for identification of crystallinity. To survey surface morphology, microscope was used. Grain size was changed gradually by different temperature due to different height. The Raman spectrum of film exhibited a sharp peak at $1334cm^{-1}$, which is characteristic of crystalline diamond. The lower position of diamond film position, the more non-diamond component peak appeared near $1550 cm^{-1}$.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.73-83
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• 2017

Used small household appliances have a wide variety of product types and component materials, and contain high percentage of black plastics. However, they are not being recycled efficiently as conventional sensors such as near-infrared ray (NIR), etc. are not able to detect black plastic by types. In the present study, an automatic sorting system was developed based on laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) to promote the recycling of waste plastics. The system we developed mainly consists of sample feeder, automatic position recognition system, LIBS device, separator and control unit. By applying laser pulse on the target sample, characteristic spectral data can be obtained and analyzed by using CCD detectors. The obtained data was then treated by using a classifier, which was developed based on artificial intelligent algorithm. The separation tests on waste plastics also were carried out by using a lab-scale automatic sorting system and the test results will be discussed. The classification rate of the radial basis neural network (RBFNNs) classifier developed in this study was about > 97%. The recognition rate of the black plastic by types with the automatic sorting system was more than 94.0% and the sorting efficiency was more than 80.0%. Automatic sorting system based on LIBS technology is in its infant stage and it has a high potential for utilization in and outside Korea due to its excellent economic efficiency.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.871-878
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• 2003

A marine bacterium (strain BKl) that produces extracellular enzymes capable of decomposing complex polysac-charides, such as agar, chitin, carboxymethylcellulose, xylan and mannan, was isolated from the marine red alga Porphyra dentata. Strain BKl was gram-negative, aerobic, catalase- and oxidase-positive, polarly flagellated bacilli that produce gelatinase and urease, but not decarboxylases. The G+C content of the DNA was 51.6 mol%. The major isoprenoid quinone component was identified as an ubiquinone-8, and the major cellular fatty acids were C16:0, C16:1 w6c and C18:1 w7c. Comparative 16S rRNA sequence analysis placed strain BK1 with members of the genus Pseudomonas. On the basis of phenotypic and genotypic data, the strain BK1 was shown to be a member of the subgroup of Pseudomonas, and named as Pseudomonas sp. BK1.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.1729-1733
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• 2007

Brassinolide insensitive associated receptor kinase 1(BAK1) is a critical component that play an important roles in signaling of brassinosteroid biosynthesis. Brassinosteroid-deficient and -insensitive mutants showed the characteristic of dwarf symptom. The nutrient deficient tomato showing stunt phenomenon was selected from soiless cultivation system using modified Sonneveld hydroponic solution. Twenty eight protein spots showing different expression levels compared to the control were isolated from extracts of stunted tomato leaves by 2D PAGE analyses. Significantly down-regulated 6 protein spots out of 28 protein spots were analyzed and sequenced by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. The protein spot having pI=4.5 and MW=24 kDa was identified as a signal protein, BAK1, which is directly related to brassinosteroid biosynthesis. In addition, five other protein spots were identified as BCK1, cystein proteinase, sulfutase, peroxidase and zinc finger factor respectively, and they were also signal proteins related to brassinosteroid biosynthesis. Furthermore, amplification of 500bp of BAK1 mRNA by RT-PCR using a primer set of peptide matched regions was inhibited conpared to that of the wild type. The results sugested that the BAK1 might be regulated at the transcription level in response to nutrition applications.